Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-25

4 One of the most pleasing incidents OF
| the trip and OF which i desired especi-
! ally to write, was visit to ssEylvan
Lake Home, the beautiful residence of
Hon. John w. Emerson, in Ironton.
| Fortunately. however. through the
kindness of a friend am enabled 20
furnish the Tribune with faithful de-
scription Of this lovely Arcadian villa.
It is an extract taken from Q letter
written by Philadelphian while on .
visit To Arcadia Valley in tie fall Of
1887. His Letter was published in Phil
adelphia, but was never reproduced In
Missouri. The extract Is as follows:
tThe Arcadia valley IL one OF the
loveliest spots on the continent. 1t is
q depression on the very top Of the
Ozark mountains, complete amphi-
theatre surrounded by undulatinu
mountains hundreds of feet high. dress
ed in beautiful foliage. with genial sky.
| q balmy but refreshing climate and
bright and sparkling streams. On its
northern rim stands Pilot x mob. cone
of iron, nearly 600 feet high, the seat OF
the most extensive iron mining in the
state.
Arcadia valley is destined to become
the summer resort between st. Louis
and the guilt. It is moreover one OF the
most historically interesting places in
the state. The old fort still stands
where in 1854 was fought one OF the
most sanguinary battles Of the war.
The writer was driven to quiet, clean,
well-kept little Inn overlooking the
beautiful courthouse square in Ironton,
shaded with pretty trees and green
grass and shrubs all about. A pretty
little country town, nesting amongst
the everlasting hills Of iron, prophyry
and granite, yet everywhere green grass
and wide shading trees.
AS the sun receded behind the west
ern rim of the valley the landlord In.
vite,i me to take walk and see the
most beautiful place in the state.' I
accepted the invitation as to the walk,
but smiled as / thought the most
beautiful place In the state' meant only
an extravaganza Of expression, duly al
lowable to all westerners. But I was
soon undeceived. He was right. On
ly one square from, the courthouse we
entered the broad gate leading to "Syl-
van Lake Home," the grounds OF Col.
Emerson, a tract of six acres. on which
has been lavished q wealth OF intelli-
gent, refined and artistic effort, which
make 1t indeed a thing Of beauty IL
indeed such term can be applied 70 q
place SO sweetly lovely.
Avenues, walks, trees, shrubs, fia to
and green sward. everywhere dive versify
the scene. Nearly in the centre ID one
of the most beautiful OF the pearly
springs that abound in the Ozarks.
This feeds two artificial lakes, one near
the spring, stocked with splendid
mountain trout. two pounds in weight,
near an acre in size, with islands and
summer houses and boats. Here you
may see sporting, fish Of many kinds,
from fifteen-pound carp. . FIVE pound
bass. down to the myriads of smaller
ones, ever ready to exhibit their beauty
for a crumb of bread. Over this spring
spread the bread branches of the great
Grant Oak 80 called because OF the
historic fact that it was under its shade
that Col. u. 8. Grant received his COM
missi0n as brigadier-geHera In 1861.
His old regiment. the 21st Illinois, was
here encamped, and Grant WASH COM
mand of the union forces. with his
headquarters in an old wooden housea
house has vanished, but on Its site now
stands one Of the most palatial brick
mansions in the state. The exterior In
not. .architecturally beautiful In design;
but the interior Is a work Of art, and
filled from top to bottom with paint
ing. statuary, books. .bric-a-brac, mineral
specimens, in short, the whole place
having an expression of the intelligent
and refineg taste of it's poetic and phil.
osophic proprietor. Perhaps the crown
ing feature is the public and benevo-
lent spirit which has prompted Judge
Emerson to allow the public the free
use Of these beautiful grounds.
Last year the veterans of Gen.
Grants old regiment erected beauti-
full monument few rods from the
Grant Oak consisting of polished
granite pedestal surmounted ty
bronze statue of United States In
fantry soldier standing at parade rest
containing the following inscription: